Apparatus for finishing carpets



June 20,v 1933. H. 1 sHuTTLl-:WORTH 1,915,106

APPARATUS FOR FINISHING' CARPETS Filed 0G11. 21, 1931 ATTORNEYS Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APTABATUS FOB FINISHING CABPETS Application led October 21, 1931.

This invention relates to apparatus for finishing pile fabrics of the kind used for rugs, carpets, and the like. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a machine 5 in which the pile is treated to improve its appearance and feel, to give it a sheen and to break up and spread the pile fibres so that the colors are brightened and the fabric has a more uniform appearance.

In the manufacture of carpets and rugs, the fabric after having its pile trimmed is found to be harsh in feel and appearance and the pile lacks the sheen characteristic of the better type of such fabrics. Also, the fabric is not of uniform appearance. This undesirable appearance and feel is due largely to the presence of scales on the wool fabric of which the pile is made up and heretofore manufac turers have frequently employed a washing treatment, subjecting the fabric to a bath of chemicals, for example chlorine, in order to remove the scales from the pile. This procedure is expensive and is liable to weaken the pile fibres, thus impairling the durability 5 of the fabric. Also, the chemicals employed frequently change the colors, thus resulting in the production of a product which is not of first grade.

The apparatus of the present invention has been devised for the purpose of subjecting such pile fabrics to a succession of treatments by which the pile is given a sheen and ,is loosened and is made uniform, the fabric thereby taking on a soft luxurious feel and appearance with the colors brightened and made more uniform.

The machine of the present invention includes mechanism for abrading the pile surface to remove the fibre scales, for removing the loose material resulting from the abrading operation, for steaming and brushing the pile to raise it and separate the pile fibres and for drying the pile, the mechanism being constructed so that these and other operations may be carried on consecutively while the fabric is in continuous movement. During the abrading operation, the fabric is preferably in a dry condition so that the fibres are relatively stiff and the scales may be readily removed therefrom by abrading devices.

Serial No. 570,196.

Also, the machine includes means by which the fabric may be iiexed at the time the abrading operations are carried on so that the pile fibres are spread apart and`may be readily reached by the abrading elements.

Preferably a plurality of abrading devices are provided operating on the libres from different directions as, for example, I may employ abrading rolls rotating on axes transverse to the direction of fabric movement and turning in opposite directions and in addition or in substitution therefor, I may employ abrading belts traveling in a `direction transverse to the direction of fabric movement, the purpose of using such devices being to insure a substantially complete removal of the scales from the pile fibres.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which Figures 1A and 1B represent successive portions of the machine in side elevation.

As shown in the drawing the apparatus comprises a frame 10 upon which are mounted a plurality of feeding or conveying rollers 11 each of said rollers being driven by a worm 12 on the shaft 13 which extends longitudinally of the frame of the apparatus and may be driven by any suitable source of power, not shown, through a pulley 14.-

At the end of the machine at which the carpet enters, a supplemental roll 15 is mounted in the frame and holds the carpet down against the first feeding roller 11. Between the first and second feeding rollers the carpet passes under a crossbar 16 which has an angularly shaped lower edge which bends the carpet sharply so as to spread and loosen the pile as carpet is fed through the apparatus with the pile downward. Below the crossbar 16 is a rotatable abrading roll 17 which contacts with the pile of the carpet and which may be formed with an abrading surface as a part of the roll or may have sandpaper, emery cloth, or the like attached to the surface thereof to give it an abrading surface.

The roll 17 is mounted inthe ends of a pair of levers 18 which are pivoted at a point between their ends to the frame 10. A link 19 Y connects the other end of each of the levers 18 with one end of a foot lever 20 which is pivoted between its ends to the frame of the machine. A weight 21 fixed to the link 19 tends to swing the lever 18 and the foot lever 20 about their pivots and force the abradlng roll 17 against the fabric. The foot lever 2O has a trcadle 20 formed on the end thereof opposite that which is connected to'the link 19 and by pressing-the treadle the llnk 19 1s forced upward to cause the abradingroll 17 to move away from the fabric. A screw stop 22 is mounted on a lug on the frame of the machine and contacts with an extension 23 on the lever 18 to limit the movement thereof and thus limit the movement of the abrading roll 17 against the fabric and control the abrading action. Each of the rolls 17 are driven by means of a spur gear 24 which is attached to the roll and meshes with a spur gear 25 which is secured to a pulley 26. The gear 25 and the pulley 26 are coaxial and rotate about an axis which is an extension of the axis of the lever 18. The pulley 26 is driven by a belt 27 from a. motor 28.

By this construction the movement of the abrading roll is limited and revolving the revolving abrading roll is forced to a controlled degree against the carpet which is bent so as to open the pile. B-y controlling the extent to which the abrading roll approaches the pile surface, the depth to which the pile yarns may be treated is controlled. As shown in the drawing there are eight abrading rolls 17 each of which is constructed and driven in the manner already described. The driving connections for the first roll'only of the series are illustrated in order to simplify the drawing, but it is to be understood that each of the rolls is driven 1n the same manner. The alternate abrading driving rolls are, however, driven in opposite directions.

After the carpet has passed the series of abrading rolls it passes over a suction nozzle 30 which removes the loose fibres and abrading material from the carpet by vacuum cleaning.

From the suction nozzle the carpet passes over a steam spray 31 where it is steamed and from the steam spray over a feeding roller 11 and under a crossbar 16 where it is acted upon by a rotating wire brush 32 which is mounted and operated in the same manner as the abrading roll 17. From the wire brush 32 the carpet passes to a second wire brush 33 rotating in the opposite direction, over a second steam spray 34, and then into contact with two more wire brushes 35 and 36 rotating in opposite directions in the same manner as the wire brushes 32 and 33.

From the last wire brush 36 the carpet passes over feeding rollers 11 between which is located a hot air dryer 37, from which the carpet passes to a second series of abrading yrolls 38, each of whichjs constructed and operated in the same manner as the abrading rolls 17.

and is wound into a roll at 44. The roll 44 v rests upon a free roller 45 and a driven roller 46, the driven roller 46 being driven by a belt 47 from a pulley fixed to the shaft of the spiked roller 40.

While the preferred form of apparatus has been described, it will be apparent that various changes may be made depending on the type of fabric being treated, the extent Vof treatment desired and other factors of that sort. Such changes include variation in the number and type of abrading devices, and their arrangement and other modifications which will be readily apparent to those familiar with carpet manufacture.

I claim:

1. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising a rotatable roll having an abrasive surface, means for pressing said roll against the pile side of said fabric to abrade the pile and remove the scales from the fibres thereof and produce a sheen, means for removing loose abrading material and fibres from the pile, means for moistening the pile surface to raise the pile, .and means for brushing the moistened pile to rearrange the fibres therein and remove any loose fibres which remain.

2. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising means for bending the fabric to spread the pile, arotatable roll having an abrasive surface, means for ressing the roll against the pile of said fabric while it is spread to abrade the pile and' remove the scales from the fibres thereof, means for removing loose abrading material and fibres from the pile, means for moistening the pile, and means for brushing the moistened pile to rearrange the fibres therein and remove any loose fibres which remain.

I 3. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising a rotatable roll having an abrasive surface, means for pressing the pile side of said fabric against said roll to abrade the pile and remove the scales from the fibres thereof and produce a sheen, a vacuum nozzle for removing loose 'abrading material and fibres from the pile, means for moistening the pile surface to raise the pile, and means for brushing the moistened pile to rearrange the fibres therein and remove any loose fibres which remain.

4. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising a plurality of rotatable rolls a part of which rotate in the o posite direction from the rest, said rolls having abrasive surfaces, means for pressingthe pile side of said fabric against said rolls to abrade the pile and remo-ve the scales from the fibres thereof and produce a sheen, means for removing loose abrading material and fibres from the pile, means for moistening the pile surface to raise the pile, and means for brushing the moistened pile to rearrange the fibres therein and remove any ,loose fibres which remain.

5. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising a rotatable roll having an abrasive surface, means for pressing the pile side of said fabric against said roll to abrade the pile and remove the scales from the fibres thereof and produce a sheen, means for rcmoving loose abrading material andfibres from the pile, means for steaming the pile lsurface to raise the pile and rotating wire brushes acting on the moistened phi/le to rearrange the fibres therein and remove any loose fibres which remain.

6. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising a rotatable roll having an abrasive surface, means for pressing the pile side of said fabric against said roll to abrade the pile and remove the scales from the fibres thereof and produce a sheen, means for removing loose abrading material and fibres from the pile, means for moistening the pile surface to raise the pile, means for brushing the moistened pile to rearrange the fibres therein and remove any loose fibres which remain, means for drying the fabric, and means for abrading the pile surface of the dried fabric.

7. A machine for finishing pile fabrics, comprising a rotatable roll having an abrasive surface, means for pressing the pile side of said fabric against said roll to abrade the pile and remove the scales from the fibres thereof and produce a sheen, vacuum means for removing loose abrading material from the pile, means for moistening and brushing the pile to rearrange the fibres therein and remove any loose fibres which remain, means for drying the fabric, and additional abrading rolls for again abrading the pile of the fabric to remove any remaining scales from the fibres.

8. A machine for finishing `pile fabrics, comprising rotatable roll having an abrasive surface, means for pressing the pile side ofV aid fabric against said roll to abrade the pile and remove the scales from the fibres thereof and produce a sheen, means for removing loose abrading material and fibres from the pile, means for moistening the pile surface to raise the pile, means for brushing the moistened pile to rearrange the fibres therein and remove any loose fibres which remain, means for drying the fabric, additional abrading rolls for again abrading the pile of the fabric to remove any remaining scales from the fibres, and a second means for removing loose abrading material and fibres from the fabric.

9. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising a series of rollers over which said fabric is fed, a series of driven rolls'having abrading faces thereon. and at least part of said rolls being driven in the opposite direction from the remainder of said rolls, means for pressing said rollsI against the fabric between adjacent feed rollers, a suction nozzle for cleaning the fabric after the abrading rolls have been pressed against it, a steam spray for steaming the fabric after itis cleaned, wire brushes rotating in opposite directions, means for -pressing the wire brushes against the fabric to remove remaining loose fibres and rearrange the fibres of the pile, a hot air dryer to dry the fabric, additional abrading rolls, means for pressin the additional abrading rolls against the fa ric, a second suction nozzle to clean said fabric, and means for drawing said fabric through said machine.

10. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising a series of rollers over which said fabric is fed, a series of driven rolls having abrading faces thereon and at least part of said rolls being driven in the opposite direction from the remainder of said rolls, means for pressing said rolls against the fabric between adjacent feed rollers, a suction nozzle for cleaning the fabric after the abrading rolls have been pressed against it, a. steam spray for steaming the fabric after it is cleaned, wire brushes rotating in opposite directions, means for pressing the Wire brushes against the fabric to remove remaining loose fibres and rearrange the fibres of the pile, a hot air dryer for drying the fabric, additional abrading rolls, means for pressing the additional abrading rolls against the fabric, a second suction nozzle for cleaning said fabric, means for drawing said fabric through said machine, and crossbars adjacent each abrading roll and Wire brush around which the fabric is drawn to bend the fabric and spread the pile While it is abraded or brushed.

l1. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising a series of driven rolls having abrading faces, means for bending the fabric adjacent said rolls, means for pressing said rolls against the fabric'to a controlled eX= tent, means for moistening the abraded surface to raise the pile, means for brushing the moistened surface, a second series of driven rolls having abrading surfaces, means for holding the fabric adjacent each of said rolls, and means for pressing said rolls against the fabric to a limited extent.

12. A machine for finishing pile fabrics, which comprises means for advancing a pile fabric, a series of driven rolls having abrading faces, means for pressing said rolls against the ile surface of said fabric, means for moistenmg the abraded surface to raise the pile, means for brushing the moistened surface, a second series of driven rolls hav- '5 ing abrading surfaces, and means for forcing said rolls a ainst the pile surface of the fabric to a contro led extent.

13. A machine for finishing pile fabrics comprising means for advancing a pile fabric, 1o a series of driven rolls having abrading surfaces, means for pressing said rolls against the fabric, vacuum means for cleaning the pile surface after it has been abraded, means for moistening the pile surface to raise the pile, means for brushing the moistened surface, a dryer for drying the fabrica second series of driven rolls having abrading surfaces, means for pressing said rolls' against the fabric, and vacuum means for cleaning the fabric after it leaves said second series of abrading rolls.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. HOWARD L. SHUTTLEWORTH. 

